E-mail to the Home Office

**frostyboy** · 23rd-June-2008

I've just sent this e-mail to the Home Office:

I am writing regarding my disappointment at the absense on the Home Office website, of publicity materials addressed to the male victims of domestic violence.

In the domestic violence section of the publicity catalogue, there are two categories: "Enough campaign" and "You don't have to live in fear range".

The "Enough campaign" section contains twelve posters (five differant posters translated in to several different languages). Four of the twelve are addressed to the BME community, while two are addressed to the LGBT community. Of the remaining six, four address heterosexual female victims, and the final two are gender-neutral.

The "You don't have to live in fear range" contains 14 posters (1 poster translated in to 14 different languages), one audio file, and one leaflet. The poster is gender-neutral, however the leaflet is primarily addressed to female victims, despite the mention of the fact that "anyone can experience domestic violence".

Statistics show that one in six men will fall victim to domestic violence, and in the United Kingdom during 2006/07, 38 men were murdered by their partners. Considering these facts, I find it disappointing that none of the publicity materials on the Home Office website are solely aimed at male victims.

I hope that male victims will not be overlooked in future publicity campaigns regarding domestic violence.

**frostyboy** · 8th-July-2008

The response:

Thank you for your e-mail of 23/06/2008 regarding the publicity materials that are currently available on the Home Office website relating to the victims of domestic violence and in particular the lack of available materials relating to male victims of domestic violence.

Before I address the comments you have raised in your letter, I would first like to reassure you that the Government believes that any victim suffering persistent abuse should be treated equally and does take the issue of male victims very seriously indeed.

We do recognise the importance of addressing this issue of male victims and for this reason a range of wider services have been put in place to support their needs. In particular, the Men's Advice Line operate a service specifically dedicated for assisting men who have been the victims of domestic violence and abuse.

In addition to all our procedures and plans for tackling domestic violence we are also working to ensure that the police and the criminal justice system are all aware of the serious issue of male victims. We are working with the Men's Health Forum who are developing leaflets and are specifically aimed at raising awareness of male domestic violence.

You may also be aware that last December, Vernon Coaker launched the Men's Coalition which is an organisation consisting of responsible men's organisations who were joined together to raise the issues of concern to men such as health, relationships and domestic violence and to put these concerns firmly in the public policy agenda.

I hope this information reassures you that the Government takes the issue of male victims of domestic violence very seriously however that said I can understand your frustration at the lack of available publicity materials that relate specifically to male victims of domestic violence on the Home Office website.

I will be raising this issue with colleagues in the near future to discuss the comments you have raised in your letter and to see what further action can be taken to address this and to ensure that when this website content is reviewed that additional examples that specifically detail male victims of domestic violence be additionally incorporated into the existing portfolio of publicity materials.

Yours sincerely,

**Celtic Druid** · 11th-July-2008

Good e-mail frostyboy.

I hope this information reassures you that the Government takes the issue of male victims of domestic violence very seriously however that said I can understand your frustration at the lack of available publicity materials that relate specifically to male victims of domestic violence on the Home Office website.

Until such words begin translating into observable actions, I suspect those who voice concerns about the plight of men will predictably be led a merry dance.

Even with a Conservative led Home Office, I believe the Tories will continue to religiously perpetuate the same gender-specific DV dynamic. They daren't upset feminists, nor ostracize female voters who 'predominantly' enjoy immunity from accountability for DV crimes.

Think about it, the political party that holds women to the least accountability and offers them an abundance of goodies - has a greater probability of securing political power.

**xavier** · 12th-July-2008

Excellent E-mail Celtic Druid and looks like it might have had an effect, time will only tell. I can't find the material off the Home Office site. Perhaps I have the wrong site, any links?

(ps am a Celt as well, Cymru)

**xavier** · 12th-July-2008

.... found it

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice...p?cPath=95#112

Googling the poster names got 'em without out having to sign in , I got the leaflet here

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/isp21.pdf

**xavier** · 12th-July-2008

...eww just checked Vernon Coakers Men Coalition Site, looks like a bit of a Feminist Mens site to me eg

http://www.themenscoalition.org.uk/D...0Violence.html

ps sorry for multiple posts